Of course, many couples do get married, and stay married, for the right reasons.

Latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show that divorce rates are falling, with rates in 2014 being at the lowest for 40 years.

A study carried out by the Marriage Foundation and the University of Lincoln also reported that couples in dire straights at the start of the marriage were demonstrably happier ten years on if they stuck at it.

The same research found that cohabiting couples who described themselves as being on the brink of breaking up were over twice as likely as married couples to part ways.

Yet there is little to no data on couples that had serious doubts about getting married in the first place.

Fear of the alternative

(Picture: Liberty Antonia Sadler for Metro.co.uk)

For some, the fear of life post-break-up up is too great to leave a relationship.

Anxiety about finding another partner, and managing alone, are both commonly cited reasons for remaining in an unhappy relationship.

‘I kept telling myself, he’s a nice guy, he won’t mess me around. We have a good life together, what else would I find at my age?’ says Jenny.

Jenny has since re-married and found happiness with her second husband.

She says: ‘That first experience, while horrendous for everyone involved, taught me so much.

‘I made sure I didn’t make the same mistakes again.’

Should you get married, or break up?

If you are having doubts about your marriage, it is not too late to find a way out.

Talk to each other. It sounds basic but if you really are concerned about your upcoming nuptials, you need to tell your partner. He or she might feel the same; if not, it is not fair to force them into a marriage that you aren’t happy with. Cancelling the engagement but remaining together is still an option.

Talk to someone. If you don’t feel you can talk to your partner, confide in a close friend or relative. Be honest – don’t let them dismiss sincere fears as ‘cold feet’.

Avoid big financial investments. The worry about financial outlays adds another layer of pressure. If you are going to book something, check whether your deposit is returnable.

Don’t have children. If you are having doubts in the early stage of your marriage, having a child will only make the situation worse. It won’t fix the current issue and it will be far harder to break-up later on.

Seek professional help. Organisations like Relate offers counselling whether you’re in a new relationship, in a long-term relationship or not currently in a relationship at all.